By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints have sent starting cornerback Paulson Adebo to Injured Reserve (IR), the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Typically a move to IR means a player will be out for a minimum of four games. However, it’s well known that Adebo will be out much longer than that.
One of the team’s top cornerbacks was transported to a local area hospital during the Saints Thursday Night Football loss to the Denver Broncos.
After making a tackle at the home sideline, Adebo remained on the ground and was tended to by team medical staff for an extended period. He was eventually outfitted with a vacuum split on his right leg before being carted off the field. After the game, head coach Dennis Allen updated that Adebo had a broken femur – a rare injury in the NFL.
The injury led to surgery in the late hours of that very evening. All signs point to the surgery going well, Allen said during his day-after conference call.
The recovery time for the injury is expected to be 4-5 months, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Adebo is in the final year of his deal. Unfortunately, that could mean that this unprecedented injury could have happened on the final snap of his Saints career. But perhaps there will be a chance for him to make it back to the team once he’s healed up and ready to make his return.
At the time of his injury, Adebo led the team in interceptions and pass break ups. He was the most targeted defender in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. The analytics site also charted him with the second-most forced incompletions (10) while being tied for the second-most pass break ups (7) in the league. Many will remember his defensive penalties instead, but the Saints are always willing to take the good with the bad of physical cornerback play. They got a lot of good out of Adebo in that category.
New Orleans will rely on the combination of cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry to replace Adebo’s production. Taylor will be relied upon in base sets opposite starter Marshon Lattimore, while McKinstry will be called upon in nickel sets to handle responsibilities on the perimeter while Taylor moves into the slot.
